Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy is hosting the "Planning for Resilient Communities" Executive Leadership Training for a newly formed cohort of Southeastern Louisiana Disaster Resilient Leadership Fellows in a five day workshop from November 14-18th. The fellowship program is supported by the Consortium for Resilient Gulf Communities (CRGC) and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI).

The purpose of the program is to strengthen capacity of local resilience leaders to build a shared framework across the Southeastern Louisiana coastal region and engage with community stakeholders to resource and implement plans for resilience building activities that ensure sustainable livelihoods and protect the region's invaluable natural resources. The workshop will be facilitated by well-experienced and recognized subject matter experts involved in resilience leadership from the CRGC, Tulane DRLA, and Southeastern Louisiana.

The workshop will take place at the newly opened Tulane River and Coastal Center river-front campus, home to the Tulane University ByWater Institute located at 1370 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans 70130. The Bywater Institute is also a member of the CRGC.

Via a nomination process steered by a five-person Louisiana Leadership Advisory Council chaired by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, fifteen (15) fellows were selected from the coastal parishes of Saint Bernard, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes representing a cross-section of constituencies such as government agencies, business sector, academia, community-based organizations and NGOs.

On Monday, 14th November at 8:30 am, a press event is being held to provide an introduction of the fellows, members of the Leadership Advisory Council (LAC), sponsors, the Consortium for Resilient Gulf Communities, and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Tulane President Michael Fitts as well as members of the Tulane ByWater Institute.

Lt Gov. Nungesser will be in attendance Monday morning and provide opening remarks about his experience as Plaquemines Parish President during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the continued need to strengthen leadership capacity at all levels to deal with current and future threats.